Participatory Forest Carbon Assessment in South-eastern Tanzania: Experiences, costs and future challenges
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Date
2015-06-26
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Cambridge University Press
Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine the changes in forest carbon in three village forests in Tanzania during 2009-2012 using participatory forest carbon assessment, and to evaluate the capability of the local communities to undertake the assessment, and the costs involved. The results show that forest degradation is caused not only by disturbance as a result of anthropogenic activities; other causes include natural mortality of small trees as a result of canopy closure, and the attraction of wild animals to closed-canopy forests. Thus, mechanisms are required to compensate communities for carbon loss that is beyond their control. However, an increase in the abundance of elephants Loxodonta africana and other fauna should not be considered negatively by local communities and other stakeholders, and the importance of improved biodiversity in the context of carbon stocks should be emphasized by those promoting REDD+ (Reduced Emissions from
Deforestation and Forest Degradation). This case study also shows that the cost per ha of USDUSD < 1 for participatory forest carbon assessment is less than that reported for
Tanzania and elsewhere (USD 3-5); this is attributed to the large area of forest studied. However, the cost of data analysis and reporting in 2012 (USD 4,519) was significantly
higher than the baseline cost (USD 1,793) established in 2009 because of the involvement of external experts.
Description
Keywords
Community benefits, Community capacity, Monitoring costs, Participatory forest carbon assessment, PFCA, REDD+, Tanzania
Citation
Katani, J.Z., Mustalahti, I., Mukama, K., and Zahabu, E. (2015). Participatory Forest Carbon Assessment in South-eastern Tanzania: Experiences, costs and future challenges. Fauna and Floral International, Doi:10.1017/S0030605315000174